Picture frame hanger



May 7', 1957 R. HIRT PICTURE FRAME HANGER Filed Sept. '7, 1955 INVENTOR.

ATTU R N EYS frrC PICTURE FRAME HANGER Raymond Hirt, San Gabriel, Calif.

Application September 7, 1955, Serial No. 532,870

3 Claims. (Cl. 248-31) This invention relates to a picture frame, and more particularly to a hanger for a picture frame.

The object of the invention is to provide a hanger which is constructed so that a picture frame can be readily hung and levelled or properly aligned.

Another object of the invention is to provide a picture frame hanger which permits adjustment of the picture frame in two directions so that the picture frame can either be adjusted vertically or horizontally so as to insure that the picture frame will be properly aligned or located.

Another object of the invention is to provide a picture frame hanger which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a sectional View taken on the line 11 of Figure 2. V

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an exploded view illustrating the various component parts of the picture frame hanger, and with parts broken away and in section.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a view showing the parts in reversed or upside down position and illustrating a lock arranged in engagement with one of the bolts so as to prevent unauthorized removal of the picture frame.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 10 designates a picture frame which may have a picture 11 mounted therein, Figure 1, while the numeral 12 designates a wall such as the wall of a building or the like.

The present invention is directed to a picture frame hanger which includes a support member 14, there being a body member 15 arranged above the support member 14. The support member 14 may be made of any suitable material and includes a pair of downwardly extending spaced parallel ears 16 which are adapted to be secured to the wall 12 by means of suitable securing elements such as screws or nails 17 or adhesive 36. There is further provided adjacent the ends of the support member 14, a pair of cutouts 18 for a purpose to be later described. The support member 14 is further provided with an elongated recess 19, and arranged intermediate the ends of the support member 14 is a threaded aperture 20.

Extending upwardly from the body member 15 and secured thereto or formed integral therewith, is a pair of spaced parallel lugs 21 which are adapted to be secured to the top of the picture frame 10 by means of suitable securing elements such as screws or nails 22, or adhesive 35. There is further provided a pair of spaced States Patent 2,791,388 Fatented May 7, 1957 parallel bolts 23, and each of the bolts 23 has an exteriorly knurled threaded nut or bushing 24 arranged in threaded engagement thereon. The upper end of each of the bolts 23 is secured with the body member 15, while the lower ends of the bolts 23 project into cutouts 18 in the support member 14. Thus, by rotating or manually turning the nuts 24, the nuts 24 move up or down on the bolts 23.

The upper portion of the recess 19 in the support member 14 flares outwardly as at 25, Figure 3, and a base 26 is slidably positioned in the recess 19. The base 26 includes an intermediate flaring portion 27 which is slidably mounted in the flaring portion 25 of the recess 19. There is further provided in the base 26 an opening or cutout 28 through which extends a bolt 29, and the bolt 29 includes a lower threaded portion 30 which is adapted to threadedly engage the threaded aperture 20 in the support member 14. The bolt 29 further includes an upper exteriorly knurled head or collar or bushing 31 which is seated in a cutout or chamber 32 in the bottom of the body member 15.

The ends of the base 26 are shaped to provide shoulders 33 which abut the bolts 23, Figure 2. The base 26 is further shaped to define fiat shoulders or ribs 34 which slidably engage the upper surface of the support member 14.

Adhesive 35 may be positioned between the body member 15 and picture frame 10, and a similar layer of adhesive 36 may be positioned between the support member 14 and wall 12, and these adhesive layers help to insure that the body member and support member will be rigidly secured to the picture frame and Wall.

Referring to Figure 6 of the drawings'there is shown a modified arrangement whereby a means is provided for preventing unauthorized removal of the picture frame 10 from the hanger. This means comprises apertures or openings 38, which are arranged in the ends of the bolts 23, and a nut 37 may be threadedly positioned on each of the bolts 23. A suitable lock 39 is adapted to have a portion thereof extended through the aperture 38 so that the picture cannot be removed unless the lock 39 is opened with the proper key.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided a picture frame hanger which permits a picture frame such as the frame 10 to be readily hung in a sturdy manner and whereby the picture frame can be readily adjusted or properly positioned or aligned. In use the ears 16 of the support member 14 may be secured to the wall 12 by means of the adhesive 36 or screws or nails 17, or both adhesive 36 and screws or nails 17. Then, the body member 15 can be secured to the picture frame 10 by means of the screws or nails 22, or by means of the adhesive 35, or both the adhesive 35 and screws or nails 22. To adjust the picture frame 10, the nuts 24 may be manually rotated, and since the upper ends of the bolts 23 are secured in the body member 15, then either end of the body member 15 can be raised or lowered depending upon the rotation of the nuts 24. When the picture frame is to be shifted horizontally or from left to right, the bushing 31 can be manually rotated so as to loosen the bolt 29 whereby the bushing 31 will move upwardly away from the top of the base 26 so that the base 26 can be shifted in the recess 19. As the base 26 is shifted into the recess 19, the bolts 23 and body member 15 will also be shifted and this in turn will cause left to right or right to left movement of the picture frame 10. After the picture frame has been moved to the desired position, the bolt 29 can again be tightened so as to maintain the frame immobile in its adjusted positions.

Furthermore, the body member 15 can be completely disengaged from the support member 14 so that the picture frame can be readily removed and replaced for purposes of dusting or painting the wall and when the body member 15 is removed, the bolt 29 can be adjusted. Similarly, with the body member 15 and picture frame removed the bolts 23 can be adjusted. Thus, the picture frame can be levelled or adjusted with respect to a window frame, door frame, wall intersection or the like. In the present invention the various adjustments can be made with the fingers without the aid of a screwdriver and the body member and support member be secured in place by means of either nails, screws or adhesives or any desired combination of nails, screws or adhesives.

The hanger of the present invention can be used for hanging any object on a wall besides a picture,- and the hanger will not be accidentally moved even though ibrations set in and the picture can be hung easily and quickly and levelled accurately. Furthermore, two or more pic tures can be readily lined up and after a picture has been made level it will remain level regardless of the amount of vibrations or jars it receives. Furthermore, the picture can be easily removed and replaced as for dusting and if desired two hangers can be used on the back of a picture, one near the top and the other near the bottom. As shown in Figure 6 the hanger can be inverted and the lock nuts 37 can be arranged thereon and also the locks 39 can be arranged thereon so that for valuable paintings and the like it will be necessary to use a key to unlock the lock. The hanger can be fastened to either the backing of the picture itself or to the picture frame as desired. The hanger can also be used to hang mirrors, signs, placards, mounted murals, banners and flags, bric-a-bric shelves, or any other articles desired. The material and 36 may be a fabric which is coated with a suitable adhesive or plastic mesh design as an integral part of the body member and of the support member and to which adhesive is applied, and which plastic m'e'sh design will increase the binding between the parts. If the picture is not too heavy, adhesive may be used instead of the screws or nails. If the picture is heavy, then the hanger may be applied with nails or screws. The hanger can be levelled without requiring any special tools and the picture can be moved from left to right without requiring any special tools. hung parallel with the wall surface instead of at the usual angle by using two hangers, one at the top and one near the bottom.

The bolts are fixed in the body member 15 and the knurled nuts 24 are threaded to turn on the bolts.

I claim:

1. In combination with a picture frame and a wall, a hanger comprising a support member, a pair of spaeed parallel ears depending from said support member and secured to said wall, said support member being provided with a pair of spaced parallel vertically disposed cutouts adjacent its ends, there being an elongated recess in the upper portion of said support member coacting with said cutouts, the upper portion of said recess being enlarged and flaring outwardly, there being a threaded aperture in said support member intermediate its ends, a body member arranged above said support member and including a pair of spaced parallel apertured lugs secured to said picture frame, a pair of spaced parallel bolts having their upper ends secured with said body member and their lower ends projecting down into said cutouts,

Also, the picture can be exteriorly knurled threaded nuts mounted on said bolts, a base slidably mounted in the recess in said support member and including a lower fiat portion, an intermediate flaring section positioned in the flaring section of said recess, and shoulders on the ends of said base for abutting said bolts, there being an opening in said base intermediate the ends thereof, said body member having a cham- L ber in the lower portion thereof, a bolt extending through the opening in said base and threadedly engaging the aperture in said support member, and a knurled collar on the upper end of said last named bolt seated in the chamber in said body member.

2. In a picture frame hanger, a support member, a pair of spaced parallel ears depending from said support member, said support member being provided with a pair of spaced parallel vertically disposed cutouts adjacent its ends, there being an elongated recess in the upper portion of said support member communicating with said cutouts, the upper portion of said recess being enlarged and flaring outwardly, there being a threaded aperture in said support member intermediate its ends, a body member arranged above said support member and including a pair of spaced parallel apertured lugs, a pair of spaced parallel bolts having their upper ends secured with said body member and their lower ends projecting down into said cutouts, exteriorly knurled threaded nuts mounted on said bolts, 21 base slidably mounted in the recess in said support member and including a lower flat portion,

: ber having a chamber in the lower portion thereof, a

bolt extending through the opening in said base and threadedly engaging the aperture in said support memher, and a knurled collar on the upper end of said last named bolt seated in the chamber in said body member.

3. In a picture frame hanger, a support member, ears depending from said support member, said support member being provided with cutouts, there being a recess in said support member communicating with said cutouts, the upper portion of said recess being enlarged and flaring outwardly, there being a threaded aperture in said support member, a body member arran ed above said support member and including apertured lugs, a pair of bolts having their upper ends secured with said body member and their lower ends projecting down into said cutouts, threaded nuts mounted on said bolts, a base slidably mounted in the recess in said support member and including a lower flat portion, an intermediate flaring section positioned in the flaring section of said recess, shoulders on said base abutting said bolts, there being an opening in said base, said body member having a chamber, a bolt extending through the opening in said base and threadedly engaging the aperture in said support member, and a collar on said last named bolt seated in the chamber in said body member.

References Cited in the tile of this patent 

